PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia Eagles coaches and most staffs around the NFL conjure up creative drills this time of year. With the regular season still three months away, players can focus on honing skills rather than resting their bodies or studying for a specific opponent.

So it wasn't entirely unusual to watch staff members roll tennis balls at the feet of Eagles quarterbacks during the first day of minicamp Tuesday. It was entertaining, though.

"The benefit obviously is to kind of feel, to simulate a rush, simulate guys around your legs, around your feet," Pederson said. "Feeling where they're coming from. Sliding, keeping your eyes up, trying not to drop your eyes and still make an accurate throw down the field."

As you can see in the video, Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz did keep his eyes forward while sidestepping tennis balls on the ground. Fourth-stringer Joe Callahan did the same.

First-year quarterbacks coach Press Taylor devises the practice plans for Eagles signal-callers, and he appears to be placing an emphasis on drills that train a quarterback to sense pass rushers. Sometimes it's with tennis balls. Earlier this offseason, Taylor made use of medicine balls.